Quality-rated places to stay and eat in County Durham

Hotel

Hardwick Hall Hotel

Sedgefield, County Durham

★★★★

Classic luxury with some modern twists, set in extensive parkland.

Hotel

Derwent Manor Boutique Hotel

Consett, County Durham

★★★★

Generously-sized bedrooms and a well-appointed gym.

Hotel

Seaham Hall

Seaham, County Durham

★★★★★

Georgian country house with spa and award-winning restaurants.

Hotel

Rockliffe Hall

Darlington, County Durham

★★★★★

Discover a riverside estate with a friendly and personal service.

Guest accommodation

The Bell Guest House

Peterlee, County Durham

★★★★

Warm and welcoming public areas at this inn, close to the coast

Inn

The Impeccable Pig

Sedgefield, County Durham

★★★★★

Grade II listed building with wonderfully elegant bedrooms.

Public house

The Impeccable Pig

Sedgefield, County Durham

Confident cooking in stylish pub-with-rooms

Things to do

Wetheriggs Animal Rescue

Barnard Castle, County Durham

Things to do

Diggerland

Langley Park, County Durham

Things to do

Tweddle Children's Animal Farm

Hartlepool, County Durham

Things to do

Egglestone Abbey

Barnard Castle, County Durham

Things to do

Bowes Castle

Bowes, County Durham

Things to do

Barnard Castle

Barnard Castle, County Durham

Things to do

Durham Cathedral

Durham, County Durham

Things to do

Rokeby Park

Barnard Castle, County Durham

Things to do

Derwentcote Steel Furnace

Rowland's Gill, County Durham

Things to do

National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool

Hartlepool, County Durham

Things to do

Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon

Shildon, County Durham

Things to do

Durham Coast (NT)

Seaham, County Durham

Things to do

Teesmouth National Nature Reserve

Seaton Carew, County Durham

Visitor attraction

Hall Hill Farm

Durham, County Durham

Quality Assessed

Family farm attraction near Lanchester

Visitor attraction

Hamsterley Forest

Bishop Auckland, County Durham

Quality Assessed

Sprawling forest with a network of trails

Visitor attraction

Hardwick Park

Sedgefield, County Durham

Quality Assessed

Historic park restored to original 18th-century splendour

Visitor attraction

Hartlepool Art Gallery

Hartlepool, County Durham

Quality Assessed

A true community art gallery based in a Grade II listed, converted Victorian church.

Visitor attraction

High Force

Middleton-In-Teesdale, County Durham

Quality Assessed

Stunning waterfall and woodland trails

Visitor attraction

The Gardens at Wynyard Hall

Wynyard, County Durham

Quality Assessed

Wynyard Hall Gardens are a must-visit for rose lovers.

Visitor attraction

Ushaw: Historic House, Chapels & Gardens

Durham, County Durham

Quality Assessed

A beautiful estate surrounding a historic house and chapels.

Visitor attraction

Wharton Park

Durham, County Durham

Quality Assessed

Historic park with stunning views

Visitor attraction

Durham Castle

Durham, County Durham

Quality Assessed

Bed & breakfast

Bonners Lodge

Consett, County Durham

★★★★★

Warmest of welcomes at super Consett B&B

Bed & breakfast

Lily Hill Farm B&B

Barnard Castle, County Durham

★★★★

Excellent touring base in lovely setting offering homely comfort.

Guest accommodation

St Chad's College

Durham, County Durham

★★★

Accommodation in a historic house

Guest accommodation

Thomas Wright House

Durham, County Durham

★★★★

A comfortable guest house with unspoiled countryside views.

Inn

The Saxon Inn

Bishop Auckland, County Durham

★★★★

Peaceful location and warm hospitality.

Room only

The Victoria Inn

Durham, County Durham

★★★★

Traditional inn makes a perfect base for exploring Durham.

Hotel

Hardwicke Hall Manor Hotel

Hartlepool, County Durham

★★★

Popular for weddings, a beautiful creeper-clad manor house.

Holiday park

Newbus Grange Country Park

Neasham, County Durham

★★★★★

A nature lovers’ paradise

Holiday park

Kingfisher Leisure Park

Frosterley, County Durham

★★★★★

This park surely provides a real home from home for residents – a well-deserved 5 star rating.

Holiday park

Heather View Leisure Park

Bishop Auckland, County Durham

★★★★★

A well run park and it is obvious that staff make great efforts to ensure the satisfaction of both longer term guests and those visiting for a shorter holiday.

Holiday park

Witton Castle Country Park

Witton-Le-Wear, County Durham

★★★★★

Plenty to see and do

Holiday park

Beamish Holiday Park

Beamish, County Durham

★★★★

A truly ‘bonny’ place to stay

Holiday park

Strawberry Hill Farm Camping & Caravan Park

Durham, County Durham

★★★★

Secure, peaceful site well placed for Durham and local attractions.

Caravan & camping

Finchale Abbey Caravan Park

Durham, County Durham

★★★★

Family-run site beside atmospheric abbey ruins in peaceful Northumberland.

Caravan & camping

Doe Park Caravan Site

Barnard Castle, County Durham

★★★★

In undiscovered Teesdale

Restaurant

Seaham Hall – The Dining Room

Seaham, County Durham

Stylish contemporary space with modern British menus.

Restaurant

The Rib Room

Durham, County Durham

Carnivore heaven in golf-oriented hotel.

Restaurant

Fusion Restaurant

Durham, County Durham

Stylish Asian dishes in an equally stylish setting.

Caravan & camping

Pecknell Farm Caravan Park

Barnard Castle, County Durham

★★★

Walking opportunities abound from this peaceful farm site.

Visitor attraction

Beamish, The Living Museum of the North

Beamish, County Durham

Quality Assessed

A truly delightful museum with a focus on 20th-century life.

Visitor attraction

Hopetown Darlington

Darlington, County Durham

Quality Assessed

Close to the place where modern rail transport began in 1825.

Visitor attraction

Oriental Museum

Durham, County Durham

Quality Assessed

Britain’s only museum of art and archaeology of its kind.

Visitor attraction

Raby Castle, Park and Gardens

Darlington, County Durham

Quality Assessed

An impressive 14th-century castle set by a large pond.

Visitor attraction

The Bowes Museum

Barnard Castle, County Durham

Quality Assessed

Discover an internationally outstanding collection of art, fashion and design.

Visitor attraction

Durham University Botanic Garden

Durham, County Durham

Quality Assessed

Large, attractive gardens and good quality food available in the cafe.

Visitor attraction

Killhope Lead Mining Museum

Bishop Auckland, County Durham

Quality Assessed

Visitor attraction

Palace Green Library

Durham, County Durham

Quality Assessed

It was excellent to receive such a warm welcome from staff

Inn

Oak Tree Inn

Stanley, County Durham

★★★

Friendly local with cosy bedrooms upstairs.

Restaurant

The Impeccable Pig

Sedgefield, County Durham

Comfortable brasserie-style dining in historic Sedgefield.

Things to do

Star Safaris

Middleton-In-Teesdale, County Durham

Hotel

Ramside Hall Hotel Golf & Spa

Durham, County Durham

★★★★

The best of both worlds – convenience and tranquility.

Racecourse

Sedgefield Racecourse

Stockton-On-Tees, County Durham

Quality Assessed

Visitor attraction

The Auckland Project

Durham, County Durham

Quality Assessed

A local initiative which encourages visitors to this charming town.

Food outlet

Hardwicke Hall Manor Hotel

Hartlepool, County Durham

Popular for weddings, a beautiful creeper-clad manor house.

Restaurant

The Bay Horse

Darlington, County Durham

Excellent local produce makes an impact.

Visitor attraction

The Hole In Wand - Dalton Park

Murton, County Durham

Quality Assessed

Join a magical hunt for dragons' eggs.

Visitor attraction

Preston Park Museum

Stockton-On-Tees, County Durham

Quality Assessed

Spa

Ramside Hall Hotel Golf & Spa

Durham, County Durham

Stylish hotel resort with stunning spa in peaceful setting near Durham

Spa

Seaham Hall

Seaham, County Durham

Self-catering

The Barn at Holwick

Middleton-In-Teesdale, County Durham

★★★★

Converted barn with a wood burning stove and a large private garden

Self-catering

New Cottage

Bishop Auckland, County Durham

★★★★

Cottage on a working family farm with magnificent panoramic countryside views

Self-catering

Wodencroft Cottage

Barnard Castle, County Durham

★★★

Self-catering

The Dairy Cottage

Barnard Castle, County Durham

★★★★

Self-catering

Katie's Cottage

Beamish, County Durham

★★★★

Self-catering

The Bungalow

Beamish, County Durham

★★★★

Self-catering

Balder Cottage

Barnard Castle, County Durham

★★★

Self-catering

Tees Cottage

Barnard Castle, County Durham

★★★

Self-catering

Woodencroft Cottage

Barnard Castle, County Durham

★★★

Self-catering

Dove Cottage

Durham, County Durham

★★★★

Pet-friendly accommodation in a good location for exploring Durham city

Self-catering

New Hall Farmhouse

Wolsingham, County Durham

★★★★

Self-catering

The Pighouse

Wolsingham, County Durham

★★★★

Self-catering

Toby Hill Farm Holiday Cottage

Barnard Castle, County Durham

★★★★

Countryside and towns.

Self-catering

Harry's House

Durham, County Durham

★★★

Self-catering

Fairfield House

Stanhope, County Durham

★★★★★

Stunning house with beautiful grounds.

Self-catering

Old Hall Cottage No 1

Spennymoor, County Durham

★★★★

Self-catering

Hall Farm Cottage

Spennymoor, County Durham

★★★★

Self-catering

Finchale Abbey Apartment

Durham, County Durham

★★★★

Located next to the river Wear, in the ground of the abbey ruins

Self-catering

Number Nine

Lanchester, County Durham

★★★★★

Discover a tranquil cottage with wonderful views.

Self-catering

The Straw House

Easington, County Durham

★★★★★

Comfortable cottage by the sea

Hotel

Sanctuary Knocker

Durham, County Durham

Awaiting assessment

Restaurant

Faru

Durham, County Durham

Awaiting inspection

Self-catering

Romaldkirk Hall Stables

Barnard Castle, County Durham

Awaiting assessment

COUNTY DURHAM